Arizona Basketball fans have a deep hatred toward their rival Arizona State Sun Devils, because of that hatred, we list the Top 10 ASU Players we hate the most.
In the rich history of the Arizona/ ASU basketball rivalry, there have been a total of 237 meetings between the two schools. Up to this point, it’s truly been a one-sided affair, as Arizona Basketball leads the overall head to head series with a 152-85 record.
Arizona undoubtedly has the richer history and more robust tradition. However, besides having more wins, there are many other reasons why Arizona Basketball has been a much better program than ASU. Perhaps none bigger than talent compared among the players.
While this may ultimately come across a little biased, many Wildcat fans can agree that there are certain ASU players that are hated the most. From the beginning until this present day, there are certain moments, certain things said or actions taken that have made these players stand out and not in a good way.
With a little inspiration from our brothers at ‘Keeping it Heel’, and a little help and feedback from our amazing fans, as well as the Zona Zealots staff, we have compiled our list of the most hated and disliked ASU Basketball players of all time.
Now I know this is the type of article in which will result in differing opinions, and that’s fair, but please be respectful, and let us know what your thoughts are. Also, let us know if there are any players that we maybe left out.
Time to get this party started, starting with our honorable mention selection!
Honorable mention: Ty Abbott
Position: Guard
Years played at ASU: 2007-11
Career stats: 10.2 points | 3.9 rebounds | 1.8 assists | 1.0 steals
A fiesty and tough guard that played at ASU during the Lute transition years, and the early Sean Miller years, Ty Abbott was a rather solid college player and an annoying thorn in the side of the Wildcats.
A Phoenix-area native, Abbott enters our list as the Honorable Mention. Why? Well, who could forget the Kevin Parrom/ Abbott incident that happened at Wells Fargo Arena (Tempe, AZ) on January 23, 2010.
The Wildcats trailed the Sun Devils at the half 27-25, but a big second half, sparked by the Parrom hard foul now deemed as ‘No Easy Buckets’, fueled Arizona to the dominating, 77-58 win.
This foul by Parrom is one of our favorite moments in Wildcat Basketball history, but more importantly, it happened against one of the most hated players, from our most hated rival.
No. 10 – Ike Diogu
Position: Forward
Years played at ASU: 2002-05
Career stats: 21.4 points | 8.8 rebounds | 1.3 assists
Arguably one of the best players in ASU Basketball history (that sounds funny just saying it), Ike Diogu was a thorn in the Wildcats’ side every time he stepped on the court. A load in the paint, he was frustrating to play against and was a nightmare of a match-up for almost any team.
The reason he comes in a little lower on the list at No. 10 on the list though, is that he played on ASU during the Rob Evans years. and never could beat Arizona in those three seasons spent in Tempe.
Diogu would eventually leave ASU in 2005 to become the No. 9 overall pick in the NBA Draft, but never could really produce like he did in college at the professional level. In his seven seasons spent (six played) in the NBA, Diogu never averaged more than 7.2 points per game in a given season.
A great college player, but an average pro, sounds about the norm for ASU.
No. 9 – Derek Glasser
Position: Guard
Years played at ASU: 2006-10
Career stats: 7.8 points | 4.2 assists | 2.1 rebounds | 0.9 steals
Very much a role player and never really a super star, Derek Glasser was the fiesty guard that played alongside James Harden for a couple seasons, becoming a gritty college player in his years spent in Tempe.
A true competitor and the all-time leader in assists in ASU history, Glasser was an easy player to dislike. He was surely a thorn in the side for our Wildcats, and in his four seasons spent with the Devils, he became a solid college player, and was one of those ‘blue collar/ hard working’ guys that wouldn’t quit or back down. As a Wildcat fan, he’s the type of player that you loved to hate, but more importantly loved to beat.
He played a tough, smart brand of basketball, but had a bit of a ‘floppy’ style of play that just annoyed you as a Wildcat fan. While he wasn’t the most productive college player, he was one that you loved to hate as a fan, and it’s the reason he is No. 9 on our list.
No. 8 -Tra Holder
Position: Guard
Years played at ASU: 2014-18
Career stats: 13.9 points | 3.5 assists | 4.2 rebounds | 0.9 steals
A talented and athletic guard, Tra Holder was a solid player for ASU from 2014-18. During his time spent in Tempe, he played on some decent Sun Devil teams, really ushering in and sparking the Bobby Hurley era, and was a big reason ASU got as high as No. 3 during the 2017-18 season.
With the Sun Devils, Holder was a quick and shifty guard that possessed the ability to knock down some big shots, or get to the free throw line with relative ease. He was a talented scorer that could score in droves, and his style of play certainly made him a frustrating player to play against and watch.
More importantly, because of that style of play, Holder was easy to root against as a Wildcat fan, and it felt good when we beat them, just like we always do!
While he now plays basketball overseas, he’s somebody else’s problem to worry about, and we certainly saw enough from Holder over the years to get our fill.
No. 7 – Stevin ‘Hedake’ Smith
Position: Guard
Years played at ASU: 1990-94
Career stats: 14.5 points | 3.6 assists | 2.6 rebounds | 2.1 steals
Aptly nicknamed ‘Hedake’, Stevin Smith fittingly can use that nickname not only for the Headache he caused Arizona fans when he played against the Wildcats, but more so for the headache he caused for Arizona State for his time in Tempe.
For those that may be too young to remember, Smith is the infamous basketball player that got busted as part of the huge NCAA Point Shaving incident in the early-to-mid 90s, and it’s the reason why he comes in at No. 7 on our list.
The year was 1993-94, with Smith being a then senior and a potential first round pick. The Sun Devils were poised to possibly make one of their rare NCAA Tournament runs, however, Smith had some unpaid debts that changed the course of their season. Instead of paying those debts off, Smith made an arrangement to personally alter the games in order to pay off that debt.
Years later, the talented college guard lives in infamy, and not in a good way. And because of what happened, he left a black mark on college basketball and more importantly is one of the most disliked ASU players.
No. 6 – Jeff Pendergraph
Position: Forward/ Center
Years played at ASU: 2005-09
Career stats: 12.6 points | 7.5 rebounds | 1.0 blocks | 0.8 assists
A college standout at ASU from 2005-09, Jeff Pendergraph (Ayres) comes in at No. 6 on this list for a few reasons.
For one, he was definitely a solid big man in his time spent with the Devils, and was a tough match-up anytime he and the Wildcats stepped on the court. Because of that tough match-up, it made defending Pendergraph a nightmare, and he was a great compliment to James Harden… blegh.
In his time in Tempe, he had some good games against the Cats, and was a part of those Sun Devil squads in 2007-08/ 2008-09 that were during the Lute interim/ transition years. So losing to him definitely doesn’t help with his “likability”, it’s a reason he comes in at No. 6 on the list.
Following his career at ASU, Pendergraph would go on to play in the NBA, but never really amounted to much, so that at least that gives some Arizona fans solace.
No. 5 – Eddie House
Position: Guard
Years played at ASU: 1996-00
Career stats: 16.5 points | 4.0 rebounds | 3.3 assists | 2.1 steals
Another talented, yet dislikable guard for the Sun Devils is Eddie House. A great scorer that played at ASU from 1996-00, House is a player that is not well-liked among Wildcat fans.
Why? Well, a lot of that hate can be cited around his antics during his time spent in the NBA even, where at the professional level, House became known as bit of a trash talker, and was a player that wasn’t afraid to get in an opposing players’ face either. To make matters worse, he played up the road at that other school.
While at ASU, he was certainly not an easy player to stop or guard, and was a fiesty player to a ‘T’, making him a match-up nightmare. Although he was never incredibly successful against Arizona, he still had some great games against the Cats, and it shouldn’t be a surprise why House comes in at No. 5 on our list!
If it makes you feel any better, here is Rafer Alston slapping house in the 2009 NBA Playoffs!
No. 4 – Remy Martin
Position: Guard
Years played at ASU: 2017-Present
Career stats: 11.3 points | 4.0 assists | 3.1 rebounds | 1.2 steals
Coming in at No. 4 on our list, the man who single-handedly destroyed the Wildcats last season, Remy Martin. A talented, yet sporadic shooter, Martin is one of the easier players to dislike and cheer against.
While he can certainly score in droves and put up points with ease, he’s a frustrating player to watch not only because he tore our hearts out last season, but more so because he plays a bit out of control and likes to flop a bit.
I have to admit the guy has talent, and seeing any reasonable success at ASU is good for the conference, but nope, can’t ever cheer for those guys. He’s going to continue to be a challenge to stop and should he play all four years at ASU, I think he’s going to contend for Glasser’s assist total.
Moving forward we’ll probably have to continue to bear his occasional HUGE games that seemingly only come against Arizona, and we’re going to have to get used to his flopping. Either way, he firmly cements himself at No. 4 on our list… for now.
No. 3 – Jahii Carson
Position: Jahii Carson
Years played at ASU: 2012-14
Career stats: 18.5 points | 4.9 assists | 3.8 rebounds | 0.9 steals
The ultimate rival to our beloved Wildcat, Nick Johnson, Jahii Carson was one of the easier players to dislike as an Arizona fan.
A talented and dynamic athlete from the Phoenix-area, Carson chose to play at ASU, since Johnson committed to Arizona, and Carson was not going to play alongside Johnson.
Jahii lasted just two seasons in Tempe, putting up some great stats for the Sun Devils, and actually helped lead them to the 2013 NIT Tournament, followed by another rare, NCAA Tournament appearance in 2014.
Why Carson comes in at No. 3 on this list is because of the double-overtime loss the Wildcats suffered at the hands of the Sun Devils in 2014, and the showboating dunk that Carson did at the end of that game that could have been a technical.
No. 2 – Kyle Dodd
Position: Guard
Years played at ASU: 1999-03
Career stats: 4.1 points | 3.3 assists | 2.2 rebounds | 0.6 steals
Certainly not one of the most productive players in ASU history by any means, but nonetheless Kyle Dodd is one of those players from ASU that gets a lot of hate, and it 100 percent has to do more so with his style of play and antics.
Always a hard working player that gave 100 percent effort throughout his career, Dodd was that fiesty player that wouldn’t back down or wouldn’t be intimidated by anybody. However, what prompted that hatred towards Dodd really boils down to one incident that happened when the Wildcats and Sun Devils met on February 20, 2002 in Tucson, AZ.
With ASU trailing (big surprise) with 6:01 left in the first half, Dodd would jump in a player pile, where Luke Walton was wrestling for a loose basketball. Not happy about the “aggressiveness, a scuffle would then ensue between Dodd and Arizona, eventually leading to his ejection.
It was that moment that forever cemented him near the top of the list for most disliked ASU basketball players of all time.
For those needing a little trip down memory lane, the scuffle/ incident starts at 44 seconds.
No. 1 – James Harden
Position: Guard/ Wing
Years played at ASU: 2007-09
Career stats: 19.0 points | 5.4 rebounds | 3.7 assists | 1.9 steals
Oh, James Harden. Without a doubt the best player to ever come out of ASU, coincidentally he’s also the most disliked player to come out of ASU too and for a few reasons too.
Yeah, he only spent two seasons in Tempe, but there were during the Lute transition/ interim coach years, so at that time we were fragile. What made it frustrating playing against Harden, is that yeah, he was a great player, but Arizona could never beat Harden. Going 0-5 against Harden doesn’t sit well with fans.
But what really Harden so disliked, was easily his style of play. A talented player and scorer, his annoyance as player were some of his antics. The guy was the king of the flop then, and it seems like not much has changed in the NBA for Harden except the years.
Need proof the reputation he gets?
More so than anything, part of why Harden is so disliked by Arizona fans, is the manner in which ASU recruited and got Harden. For those that don’t know, ASU hired Harden’s high school coach, and even recruited one of Harden’s high school teammates and friends in Derek Glasser (yeah that guy who’s also on our list). Sounds a bit shady if you ask us.
Anyways, those are the reasons why Harden comes in at No. 1 on our list and it’s there where he will likely stay!
At Zona Zealots, we love our Wildcats and we love to hate ASU! Let us know what you think of our list! As always, Bear Down, Arizona!